May 26, 2007

  • Why, why, why?

    Sugar levels are doing much better, though not where they should be yet. Working on it.

    This coming week, I could use prayer for keeping those sugar levels under control, that the meds stop wreaking havoc on my innerds, and that the interviews we have scheduled for Wednesday go well. Also, pray for my kids who live in Texas. They are in an area that is flooding very badly. There have been 6 deaths reported in their area already due to the flooding.

    I'm going to enjoy having an extra day off this week. I think I might go down to the Memorial Day program as it's honoring Desert Storm/Shield and War on Terror vets this year. At the moment, John (who is a Desert Storm vet), doesn't seem to want to go. I'd like him to go with me, but if he doesn't, he doesn't.

    Why, Why, Why ???   
     
    Do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

    Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough money?

    Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

    Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

    Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

    Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

    Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

    Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

    Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "Lisp"?

    If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

    Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

    Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

    Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

    Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

    Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

    How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

    When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right?" Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That hurt, you stupid idiot?"

    Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

    In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
    How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

May 24, 2007

  • No jury, no biscuits

    There was no jury trial this week (sigh) and their won't be one next week because of the Memorial Day holiday. I figure I'm probably next to get called out of the 50 or so people on the slate. The week before last they called up 20 people from which to pick 12 jurors and 2 alternates. I am juror #25, so I figure I'll get called to the box next time, even though they might kick me to the side for knowing the people involved, or it will end up being a domestic abuse case again and they'll excuse me because I was a victim's advocate for so many years. I really do want to serve on a trial.

    I discovered yesterday that biscuits our not longer allowed in my menu. I've really been checking my blood sugar the past two weeks, several times a day in fact. I was doing ok (ok, not ok as far as the doctor's concerned, but ok in making progress in getting a grip on this) hovering between 250 and 275 yesterday, even after eating a biscuit for breakfast. I was in a hurry last night to eat something quickly so I could make it to church, so I ate some leftover biscuits and hamburger gravy for supper. Before eating, my sugar was 258, but when I took my sugar after I got home from church, it was 444. HOLY COW!!! No more biscuits and gravy for me. Just one more thing I like to eat that I'm having to give up so I can prolong my life.

    I did start taking the glucophage again the night before last. I'm taking it at night in the hopes that I will avoid the havoc it creates on my digestive system. Diarrhea is one of the side effects and boy does it hit me hard with that stuff.

    I want to cry because this is so hard to control. My husband got really mad last night, and for those of you who know him, you know he doesn't usually get mad very easily. He told me I have two choices, either I learn to control this or he can hound me about every single thing I put into my mouth. So, it's back on the meds that I hate so much. I need to schedule an appointment with the doctor, but we owe so much in medical bills now, it's a slow time of the year, and we've got a trip to Texas to pay for (to see our TWO granddaughters - one who isn't here quite yet and the 2-year-old who we haven't seen since she was 6 months old.

    Please pray for me.

May 19, 2007

  • Forever in Blue Jeans

    I worked the Knoxville store today so our guy over there could have a whole weekend off. We've been super short handed since we lost our 2nd gal in February, and no one left in the company has had a Saturday off since. The two employees I have left really do deserve a weekend off, so I'm working sales at one or the other store the next couple of weeks to let each of them have a full weekend off.

    Saturday sales in Knoxville are usually pretty slow, so I had the local radio station on. They play what they call "Yesterday's Hits and Today's Favorites" but it's mostly songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s. I was looking over job applications, having a lunch of leftover fajitas, when Neil Diamond's "Forever in Blue Jeans" came on the radio. I immediately had to call my sister. She and I are the only two girls out of 6 kids, so even though there is nearly 11 years difference between us, we had to share a bedroom for a few years. I had an LP (that's an old-fashioned record for those of you who have know nothing other than the CD) of Neil Diamond, and that was one of the songs on it. Every night, before we'd go to bed, Ann would ask me to play that song for her. I often just played the entire side of the CD and we both went to sleep to it, but "Forever in Blue Jeans" was Ann's song. I'm so glad she was near her phone and answered, because we laughed over that memory. That bedtime song, AND, the 45 of Foreigner's "Urgent" that I would play loudly every morning to get going. At the age of 5, she would groan over that song, but I always made it up for her in the evening with "Forever in Blue Jeans." We both still love Neil Diamond.

    John and I rented a Rototiller this afternoon and got our garden plot dug up. I need to get my veggies out before the end of the month or we aren't going to have any. Gonna plant tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, green onions and radishes.

    Tomorrow after church we'll be cleaning the gutters before it rains again and that rain makes its way down into my basement again.

May 15, 2007

  • Well, I didn't get picked today. Probably better that I didn't because I would have been dismissed with cause anyway. It was a domestic abuse case. The defendant was charged with domestic abuse and child endangerment. While I think I could have made a fair assessment, they would have thrown me out due to the appearance of a conflict of interest. I was a volunteer advocate for the local domestic violence program for years. I also go to church with the arresteing officer.

    Better luck next week.

  • Pick me! Pick me!

    Today is my first day to report to jury duty. Apparently they didn't have any jury cases last week, so today is it. I must report to the clerk's office by 9:00 a.m. Unlike so many people, I WANT to get picked for jury duty. I just hope it's not a boring case, or it's not so warm in the courtroom I want to fall asleep, or I don't have a problem with my bowels after eating today.

    I believe that it is my responsibility as an American citizen to serve jury duty. Sure, our court system is not perfect, but we have one of the fairest in the world, and it can only stay that way if we step up as citizens and serve. There are lots of ways I can get out of jury duty, so I'm told, but I'm not going to do any of them. I'm afraid I may not get picked anyway because of how many people in town I know. I worked as a newspaper reporter for two years when I first came here, helping to develop an excellent repoir with the police department (cop beat was always my favorite assignment). Because of that, I know about 2/3 of the current police department. They've gotten a lot more since I left, but I still know a lot of them. I'm also a business owner, so I know a lot of people through my business. I just hope knowing someone doesn't get me excluded, but I'm afraid having them as a customer might.

    I think I'd like to get picked for a civil case, kinda like The People's Court in action. That would be kinda fun, as long as I keep any smart-aleck comments (like, "Yeah, right") to myself and they don't actually escape my mouth. Those of you who know me well know that might be a difficult task for me - Ha!

    Happy Birthday to Maria!!
    Ya'll go by and wish her a good one.

May 13, 2007

  • happy_mothers_day_lg_blk

    Especially to my own Mom. She's my friend and my confidante.
    I don't know what I'd do without her. I cherish our relationship.

    Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother Steve (on Mother's Day this year) and to his wife Maria (on the 15th, I think).

May 10, 2007

  • Inquiring Minds Want to Know

    Kowpatty asked me to answer the following questions, so, being the good daughter that I am, I must answer.

     

  • If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
    This is such a tough question, because there are lots of places I'd like to travel yet. I want to take a European vacation, with stops in Scotland to visit my friend and adopted dad Sunnee, and to Germany to visit a friend John made during the eight years he lived there while in the Army. I am an Army brat and always felt a little gypped that I didn't get to go to Germany like most of my friends did, but then most of them didn't get to go to Japan like I did. But, if I had to choose only one place to visit, and had the money to pay for it, I would have to say it would be Australia. I've always had a fascination with Australia, and my husband has a desire to go there as well. Of course, we'd have to take my mom along with us, 'cause she's always wanted to go there as well. Plus, my husband, who speaks multiple languages, has informed me I must learn to speak the language of any country I want to visit, which means Australia would be one I'm already eligible to travel to, Ha!

    •  

  • What do you want to pass on to your grandchildren?
    The knowledge of Jesus Christ and what he has done for us.
  • If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be and why?
    Ronald Regan, when he still had a mind. I think he was a great man, kind and caring and full of moral character. Mary, mother of Jesus, just to talk about the struggle she had parenting God in the flesh. We have enough trouble with our own kids thinking they know it all. How hard would it have been with someone who did know it all? (Of course, I'm sure Jesus' knowledge was shrouded a bit when he was in human form, but still.) Eleanor Roosevelt, what a great lady she was. I think it would be fun to have a conversation with a strong woman from a period when being a strong woman was not looked upon favorably.
  • Would you rather have been at the birth of Jesus or the dead of Jesus? Explain.
    These are tough questions. I want to say the birth of Jesus, because it would have been much sweeter and more pleasant, but then, few people understood the significance of it at the time. I mean, really, the wise men were not actually there at the birth, but then again, angels did announce it to the shepherds and it would have been really cool to see angels (I'm an avid angel fan). His death was so violent, and I'm sure it would have torn my heart out more to see it, and knowing the significance of it. I guess it would make a difference if I knew then what I know now. I guess after all that suppositioning, I'd have to say his birth.
  • What do you want to be remembered for?
    Being kind and having a sense of humor. The fact that I'm getting moodier as I get older, I'm afraid that may not be what I'm remembered for, but that's what I'd like to be remembered for.

May 8, 2007

  • Happy Birthday, Kowpatty


    To my dear sweet Mama, Kowpatty! Ya'll stop by and wish her a good one. She's a great mom, and all six of her kiddos and our spouses and kids love her to pieces.


    Happy birthday, Mom. You are not only my mother, but my friend. Love you!!!

May 1, 2007

  • STRESS IS REAL!!!

    I'm not sure exactly how this works, but it is amazingly accurate.

    Read the full description before looking at the picture.

    The picture below has 2 identical dolphins in it. It was used in a case study on stress levels at St. Mary's Hospital.

    Look at both dolphins jumping out of the water. The dolphins are identical. A closely monitored, scientific study revealed that, in spite of the fact that the dolphins are identical, a person under stress would find differences in the two dolphins.    The more differences a person finds between the dolphins, the more stress that person is experiencing.

    Look at the photograph and if you find more than one or two differences you may want to take a vacation.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Never take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

     

    Too bad I don't know how to take that advice myself. I really do need a vacation. I don't have much time for Xanga of late. Too many things going on in life. I haven't been taking my blood sugar for a couple of months. I went to take it last week when I was feeling out of whack and discovered the battery in my glucometer was dead. So no blood sugar until I got that replaced. John remembered to bring home a spare battery last night (they are the same kind many computers take) and I tested my sugar this morning at 259!!! YIKES!!!! I really don't want to have to get back on the meds cause they really mess with me. I'm having such a hard time dealing with diet and exercise, but I know if I don't figure out how to live with this I WILL die from it. It's very sad.

     

    I'm depressed lately because of so much going on in my life. I haven't had a day off from work, except Sunday, in three months and it's starting to get to me. We are short-handed and I'm still behind, though starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. I'll probably get cleared just in time for out trip to Texas in a couple of months, just in time to get behind again. Ha!

     

    We did hire a housekeeper to help us out. He comes every couple of weeks and charges me $40 a pop. I wouldn't mind so bad if he'd actually clean things. We'll have to have a talk with him about it this next time. Last time he spent 1 1/2 hours there. When we got home, the toilet hadn't been cleaned, the bathroom mirror hadn't been cleaned, there was a cat hairball under one of the tables (dry, so I know it wasn't since he quit) and the back of the sink hadn't been wiped, among other things. I know my house is a pretty big mess and it's going to take a while. I don't mind paying the $40 if he's going to actually get it clean, and I wouldn't mind if it was 1 1/2 hours IF he actually had gotten there. When he talked me into this flat rate, I figured it was worth it because of all the deep cleaning that needs to be done to get it up to where it will be a routine thing.

     

    That, on top of wedding drama, on top of work crap, on top of never getting a day off and worrying about my health, is really getting to me.

     

    So, forgive me if I'm not going to manage to make weekly posts. I have to figure out a way to exercise, and I think yard work might be one way to get me active again. I'd like to buy Hubby and I bicycles and go riding, too, but after just buying a new lawnmower, I think that's going to have to wait. Maybe I can find some at a yard sale or something, but then I'd have to manage to take off work to go yard saling. That's something both Hubby and I enjoy, too, and something we could do together if we could only manage to get away from work long enough to do it. I don't necessarily consider Sundays a day off because I spend so much time in church. I do manage to catch a nap on Sundays, though, so that's good.

     

    I'm totally rambling now, so I'm outta here.

April 16, 2007

  • Summons, lawsuit and a wedding?

    Lots of stuff has been happening in the past couple of weeks. This past week, I got a summons to serve jury duty. I have been a registered voter since I turned 18, and I was called one other time to serve jury duty over 20 years ago. At that time, I had already moved out of the county I was called to serve in, so I couldn't serve. In Iowa, we must serve for a 2-month period. I have to call every Monday to see if there is a trial scheduled that week. If there is, I have to report to jury duty every Tuesday morning. I may or may not get called to serve on the jury of that trial. I may not have to sit through any cases at all; or I may have to serve on more than one.

    The day after I found out I had to serve on jury duty during the months of May and April (which I consider a civic duty to support the American justice system), my son and his girlfriend called to tell me they are getting married this summer. Problem is, they want their wedding date to be in June, which we cannot make, and they are trying to plan it for the day after my oldest daugther's due date. I tried to explain to them that schedule during that time may end up having other events overshadow their special day.

    Then, it turns out that one of my employees has a beef with a guy who supposedly didn't pay him for some work he did before we hired him. They guy turns out to be a member of the church I just joined. Apparently the guy has over 200 small claims cases, mostly where he has sued someone else. I need some help with some scripture that talks about suing fellow believers. I know there is some, and I've found, with the help of my son-in-law, Corinthians 6:1-8; and Matthew 5:39-41. Does anyone know of any others?

    Still swamped at work, and short-handed. Will check in when I can.

Iowa_Deb

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